Round 6 Reserves: Laurie Inspires Tigers

By Dan Scamozzi 

Jesse Laurie is a highly-decorated player and a highly-respected person at the Claremont Football Club, and also a brilliant footballer.

At a sunbathed Claremont Oval against Peel Thunder on Saturday, the man known as “JLo” produced a vintage performance in the Reserves’ 33-point win, 13.11 (89) to 7.14 (56).

20 disposals and 12 marks is a fair indication of just how good Laurie’s unflinching performance was, but his composure and ability to read the play and out-position opponents – something which can’t be measured by statistics – was just as impressive.

And when you include his inspirational leadership, it resulted in the captain and popular defender convincingly winning Claremont’s best player and the players’ player award.

The final result also said a fair bit about the whole team, and was achieved via a stirring comeback.

After being jumped by Peel during a flat start to the game, the Tigers found themselves trailing by 13 points at quarter-time, but rallied to kick 10 goals to two from then on to maintain their unbeaten start to the season and record their fifth consecutive win.

Midfielder Jake Murphy recorded a team-high 31 disposals in an encouraging performance as he works his way back to full fitness, while wingman Josh Bennett (27 disposals) took a game-high 13 marks on the back of his strong work rate.

The hard-running Callan England (29 disposals, 11 marks) responded to his League omission with a strong performance, while full-forward Eddie Simpson (17 disposals, nine marks, three goals) tore Peel’s defence to shreds with his strong marking.

Jack Bradshaw played three quarters and kicked three goals in an encouraging return from a knee injury, while robust defender Jacob Orr played his first game of the season.

Meanwhile, ruckman Jordon Reid (14 disposals, 21 hit-outs, one goal) produced a promising performance against Fremantle’s Lloyd Meek and gave the Tigers a great contest with his efforts around the ground, while regular defender Lewis Davis (six marks, one goal) excelled in his new role as a forward.

The Tigers kicked to the southern end of the ground in the opening term but quickly found themselves on the back foot as Peel kicked three consecutive goals, before Cooper Nitschke kicked truly after being found by Simpson.

Peel replied through a second goal to Billy Chambers, before the dashing Jake Stergiou bounced through the Tigers’ second after a great run and two bounces.

Bradshaw then split the middle from the pocket after a patient build-up from midfield, before Peel kicked their fifth goal in the final minute of the opening term to take a 13-point lead at the first change.

Coach Brayden Duckworth implored the Tigers to spread wider and make the ground big, before Davis kicked truly early in the second term after winning a holding-the-ball free kick at full-forward.

Ben Rushforth then made the most of a clever pass from Bradshaw to give the Tigers consecutive goals, before Nitschke kicked his second after a squaring pass from Simpson.

Laurie then produced an uncompromising attack on the ball and a team-lifting second effort during an inspirational passage of play, before a great tap from Rushforth and a spearing pass from Nitschke saw Simpson extend the Tigers’ lead to 12 points at half-time.

Peel replied early in the second half with their first goal since the opening term, before Simpson beat three opponents as he hauled in another strong mark and kicked his second goal after some repeat efforts from Bradshaw.

Bradshaw then kicked two goals in two minutes to give the Tigers a commanding 26-point lead, with England becoming more prominent by the minute.

Goals to Rushforth and Reid extended the lead to 36 at the final change, with Duckworth praising the team’s spreading.

The Tigers began the final term minus Bradshaw, before a searching pass from Nick Winmar allowed Simpson to kick his third goal, and although Peel kicked the final major of the game, it mattered little as the hosts maintained their excellent start to the season.

The Tigers will aim for their sixth consecutive win when they host Subiaco at Claremont Oval in round seven.

Meanwhile, Claremont’s Colts recorded their second win of the season after defeating Peel Thunder by 12 points, 10.8 (68) to 8.8 (56).

CLAREMONT 3.1 7.5 12.7 13.11 (89)

PEEL THUNDER 5.2 5.5 6.7 7.14 (56)

GOALS

CLAREMONT: 3 J. Bradshaw, E. Simpson, 2 B. Rushforth, C. Nitschke, 1 L. Davis, J. Stergiou, J. Reid.

PEEL THUNDER: 3 B. Chambers, 1 O. Walton, L. Meek, J. Quinn, L. Cullen.

BEST

CLAREMONT: J. Laurie, J. Murphy, J. Bennett, C. England, E. Simpson.

PEEL THUNDER: M. Bogensperger, T. Powell, H. Matthews, J. Howes, K. Scarrott.